Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

Could you be at risk for skin cancer? It depends on your genes, your lifestyle, and your environment.

Skin cancer is usually caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as from sunlight or tanning beds. The UV light damages genes in your skin cells. If enough damage occurs, the cells may begin to grow uncontrollably, leading to skin cancer. UV light may also make it harder for your immune system to detect and destroy skin cancer cells.

To get an idea of your own personal risk, consider two things: the amount of UV light you're exposed to, and how much protection you have from UV light. The greater the exposure to UV light, and the less protection you have, the greater your risk.

Things that can increase your UV light exposure include:

• working at outdoor jobs
• sunbathing
• participating in or watching outdoor sports
• using tanning beds or salons

Things that reduce your protection from UV light include:

• having fair skin that burns easily (darker-skinned people have more melanin, a skin pigment that helps protect skin from UV light)
• living close to the equator, at a high altitude, or being outside on days where the UV index is higher (greater risk of sun damage)
• having health conditions (such as HIV) or taking medications (such as cancer or transplant medications) that suppress the immune system, since these decreases the body's ability to find and destroy skin cancer cells

Other factors that increase the risk of skin cancer include severe sunburns, excessive X-ray exposure, arsenic poisoning, or burns from radium. One particular type of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, has some extra risk factors, including a family history of skin cancer, large numbers of moles, or unusual moles.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Protecting-Yourself-from-Skin-Cancer

The most important thing you can do to avoid skin cancer is to minimize your UV light exposure. That means protecting your skin from the sun and avoiding tanning beds or lamps. Here are a few sun safety tips that will let you enjoy your time outdoors safely:

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 30. Choose one that protects against both types of UV light (UVA and UVB). Some products combine a moisturizer and sunscreen in one for added convenience.
• If you can, schedule outdoor activities before or after the peak sun hours of 11 am to 3 pm.
• Cover up – use a hat, sunglasses, and clothing that will cover as much exposed skin as possible (for example, opt for longer pants, long sleeves, or a longer skirt). "Wrap-around"-style sunglasses are ideal because they let in less light than other styles.
• Spend time in shaded areas or under umbrellas during the peak sun hours (11 am to 3 pm).
• Babies under one year of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Protect the baby from direct sunlight using an umbrella, a stroller cover, or clothing and hats.
• Find out whether your medications increase your risk of sunburn. Certain antibiotics and acne medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun. If you're taking any of these medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you want to stay safe but still love that tanned look, you may want to try a sunless tanning product (also called "self-tanning" products). These products, which usually come as a cream or a gel, contain a dye that binds to dead skin cells, producing a tanned colour. The colour usually wears off in about a week when the dead skin sloughs off. Sunless tanning products need to be applied regularly in order to maintain the colour. Wash your hands with soap and water after applying the product to avoid transferring it to other areas of the body. Some products also contain sunscreen, but their sun protection factor (SPF) is generally not enough to protect you.

Regular skin examinations are another tool in the fight to prevent skin cancer. The Canadian Dermatology Association suggests that everyne should perform a monthly skin self-exam. This will help you become more familiar with your own skin so that you can notice changes and have them checked out by a doctor. You should also have your skin examined by a doctor every year.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Protecting-Yourself-from-Skin-Cancer

Most skin cancers can be cured if they are caught early. The secret to early detection is knowing your skin like the back of your hand. We may be familiar with every mole and blemish on our faces, but what about the areas that aren't so easy to see? A monthly skin self-exam is a great way to get to know all of the skin you're in.

Want to start doing skin self-exams? Here's how:

• Start in a well-lit area. You'll need a couple of mirrors (usually one larger mirror and one smaller, hand-held one) to see those difficult-to-view areas, such as your back. Or you can ask someone to help.
• Examine the skin on all parts of your body. To make sure you don't forget a part, it helps to follow a routine. For example, you could first look at the front of your body, then the back, and then the sides. Next, you can move on to areas such as the hands and feet (including between fingers and toes), your genital and buttock area (including between the buttocks), behind your ears, and your neck. Don't forget to check the scalp and skin folds.
• Get to know your skin's usual moles and birthmarks. Then, re-examine your skin every month. Report any changes or anything that looks unusual to your doctor. Get a yearly skin check-up by your doctor.

What should you watch for when examining moles on your skin? Follow the "ABCDE" of skin cancer:

• A (asymmetry): This means the mole is not the same shape on both sides.
• B (border): Moles with jagged or notched borders may be a sign of skin cancer.
• C (colour): Moles that change colour may be skin cancer warning signs.
• D (diameter): Moles larger than 6 mm across may be a sign of skin cancer.
• E (elevation): Moles that are raised above the surface of the skin may be a sign of skin cancer.

Also, if you notice changes such as a sore that does not seem to heal, bleeding or itchy moles, or any other skin changes that worry you, see your doctor.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Protecting-Yourself-from-Skin-Cancer

Actinic keratosis is an early warning sign of skin cancer. These rough, scaly skin lesions are found on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun over time. Although they are not considered to be a form of skin cancer, they can turn into skin cancer if they aren't treated promptly.

Like skin cancer, actinic keratosis is caused by too much exposure to UV light, such as from sunlight. People with fair skin that burns easily are at a higher risk of actinic keratosis.

How can you tell if you may have actinic keratosis? Check your skin, especially any sun-exposed areas, for rough, scaly lesions that may be skin-coloured, red, pink, grey, or brown. The lesions are often covered with a crust. Actinic keratosis is often found on the face, scalp, ears, neck, arms, and hands. If you notice anything that fits this description, or any other skin changes you're concerned about, check with your doctor.

If your doctor diagnoses actinic keratosis, there are a number of treatment options. Surgery can be used to remove the lesions, either by cutting out the lesion, using liquid nitrogen to "freeze" the lesion, using a laser to destroy the cells of the lesion, or using bursts of electricity to dry out the lesion and make it easy to remove. Medications, such as fluorouracil and imiquimod, can be applied to the skin to help clear up the lesions. Photodynamic therapy, which uses a special light source in combination with medication, can also be used to treat actinic keratosis.

How can you prevent actinic keratosis? The same way you can protect yourself from skin cancer – by avoiding exposure to UV light and monitoring on your skin. So using sunscreen, avoiding the peak sun hours (11 am to 3 pm), covering up with clothing and sunglasses, and doing monthly skin self-exams can all reduce your risk of actinic keratosis, or help catch it early if it does develop.

All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2024. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Protecting-Yourself-from-Skin-Cancer